Braley, Ernst in attack mode

Republican state Sen. Joni Ernst and U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, a Democrat, discuss political ads at the U.S. Senate candidate debate at St. Ambrose University in Davenport on Saturday.(Photo: Associated Press)

Democrat Bruce Braley came to Saturday night's debate to fight, and he took it to Republican Joni Ernst hard, schooling his rival that she had to be willing to explain or defend controversial comments she'd made during the GOP primary.

"Sound bites have consequences," Braley, an eight-year congressman, told Ernst in the second of three debates in Iowa's fiercely competitive U.S. Senate race.

Later, he said: "Senator Ernst is fond of saying things that sound good, but when you look at what they mean to Iowans, they don't make Iowans better off."

That opened the door for Ernst, a four-year state senator, to get the biggest applause line of the night.

"When you talk about your words, behind closed doors at a fundraiser in Texas, you poked fun at Senator Grassley for being just a farmer from Iowa without a law degree," she said, as some members of the crowd at St. Ambrose University in Davenport roared with approval.

Iowa politics watchers observed that Ernst wasn't as dominant at the beginning of the Quad-City Times/KWQC-TV6 debate, which highlighted how well she did in the first debate two weeks ago at Simpson College.

"It seemed that Braley was a bit more relaxed at the start this time than in the first debate, and that Ernst was a little more tentative," said Timothy Hagle, a political scientist at the University of Iowa.

Hagle pointed out that the first debate followed the release of a Des Moines Register Iowa Poll that showed Ernst in the lead by 6 percentage points. Two hours before Saturday night's debate began, a second Iowa Poll showed that the race has tightened, and Ernst now leads by 1 point.

"It might be the kind of thing that could affect one's debate performance to some extent," Hagle said. "Regardless, Ernst seemed to warm up once things got going."

"A better result for Braley tonight than in the first debate," agreed Democratic strategist Jerry Crawford.

The pair sparred over Social Security, national security and health care.

Braley prefaced several of his comebacks with an attack line: "Senator Ernst knows that isn't true."

"Which seems to be a polite way of saying she's lying," Hagle said. "Ernst didn't seem to take the bait."

A moderator asked Braley about a TV attack ad by the NRA Political Victory Fund that ties Braley to Michael Bloomberg and says Braley will take away people's Second Amendment Rights.

"The answer is, I've never met Michael Bloomberg," Braley said with a laugh. "I have no idea what these ads are based upon."

Republican operatives immediately jumped on Braley for that, noting that a news release on Braley's congressional website describes how he and Bloomberg both spoke at a December 2010 event by No Labels, a nonpartisan issue advocacy group.

Ernst was asked about another TV attack ad that insinuates she had signed a written commitment to the Koch brothers, two billionaire businessmen who are influential in conservative politics.

"No, I have not signed a pledge with the Koch brothers," Ernst said, laughing.

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"I stand with Iowans who want secret donor money out of Iowa politics forever," he said to cheers and applause. "I think it's the worst thing that's happened to our democracy."

Then he added: "I call on you to join me right now, Senator Ernst, in committing to telling all these outside groups to take these ads down and let Iowans decide this election."

Ernst responded: "There are probably reforms that could be made, but again I'm getting outspent by $2 million from these very organizations that are supporting Congressman Braley."

Braley repeatedly mentioned deceased relatives who are buried locally, stressing his family's long Iowa history and his own small-town roots.

Ernst played up her "Iowa knows better than Washington" theme.

Hagle said: "I'm not sure we covered much new ground this time, and it's not clear that will change for the next debate."

The final debate, sponsored by KCAU-TV, is Thursday in Sioux City. Election Day is Nov. 4.

How political insiders saw it

Jerry Crawford, a Democratic strategist and Braley backer

BRALEY HIGHLIGHT: "Bruce was much more comfortable tonight. He smiled, he threw back his head and laughed, and he used humor. Much better performance by Bruce in the 'who do you want to have a beer with' category."

BRALEY LOWLIGHT: Braley had "more detailed responses on policy throughout than Senator Ernst, though some of his detailed responses were of unpopular subjects — the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Obamacare."

ERNST HIGHLIGHT: "On the presentation front, Senator Ernst again looked and acted confidently. Her best line was the one where she agreed with Bruce that words matter and brought up the Grassley/farmer line. She also was solid on foreign policy, in part relying on her own service."

ERNST LOWLIGHT: "While they have done a good job of preparing her, she is still 'Senate light.' Lots of platitudes and almost no specifics on how she would provide health care given her opposition to Obamacare, or stabilize Social Security, make guns safe in society, protect the environment and on and on."

Robert Haus, a GOP strategist and Ernst backer

BRALEY HIGHLIGHT: "He was more engaged than in the first debate, when he looked like a first-year law student and not an experienced trial lawyer. I think that may rally his core supporters."

BRALEY LOWLIGHT: "It made sense that Congressman Braley had a bleak black backdrop. He acted like he was coming to a back alley gang fight. He looked like he'd had too much Mountain Dew and was hyper-aggressive. I would imagine that No Party voters won't react well to such anger."

ERNST HIGHLIGHT: "It also made sense that the American flag was behind Joni. Her answers on the foreign policy questions showed she's an experienced leader, and not just spouting talking points. Braley has no foundation on foreign policy. Joni does. It was her high point discussing military issues."

ERNST LOWLIGHT: "I thought her low point was the short answer on DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which allows young people who crossed the border illegally with their parents to remain in the country), and the Obama administration policies that have led to the crisis at the southern border. She missed a chance to tell the audience the hypocrisy of Braley's statements and the real cause for the problem, Congress' inaction on securing the border."

Timothy Hagle, a political scientist at the University of Iowa

BRALEY HIGHLIGHT: "It seemed that Braley was a bit more relaxed at the start this time than in the first debate and that Ernst was a little more tentative."

BRALEY LOWLIGHT: "In the middle of the debate, I noticed that Braley's right hand was shaking. It was about the time that things got a bit heated, so maybe that was it. Later I didn't see it shaking, so I assumed it was nerves."

ERNST HIGHLIGHT: "Ernst managed a reply (on the Grassley/farmer gaffe) that seemed to get a big crowd reaction."

ERNST LOWLIGHT: "I thought Ernst was a bit too much on her talking points. It's good to stay on message, but candidates need to be smoother about moving from a specific question to the points they want to make."